PM: I Know It's Been Tough,but Our Plan Will Boost Britain

Rishi speaking to Express readers vows to renew nation's sense of pride

- Sam Lister

RISHI Sunak has vowed to renew Britain's sense of pride after "tough times". He promised Daily Express readers who met him at No 10 that his plans for the economy will boost Britain, with good progress already made on some of the biggest issues the country is facing.

The Prime Minister also revealed a very personal motivation behind his desire to do the best for the country that gave his parents a "special" welcome.

Talking to a group of Express readers in Downing Street, he said: "I want everyone to have a renewed sense of pride in our country and if we stick with our plan I really think I can give you the peace of mind that the future will be better. That's what I'm about." Mr Sunak, who was Chancellor when the pandemic hit, said that the economy is now heading in the right direction.

Although the latest figures put Britain into recession at the end of last year, across the whole 12 months of 2023 there was growth.

Mr Sunak said: "We have been through a tough time in the last couple of years as a country, getting through Covid with all the impact that's had on backlogs, then we've had the situation in Ukraine driving up energy bills. So it hasn't been an easy time.

But I really think that although we have got work to do, at the start of this year we are pointing in the right direction.

"We have turned a corner and we are heading in the right direction. I feel that because I look at the progress we are making. Inflation has been more than halved, which was the big priority when I first got the [Prime Minister's] job.